Legacy Scholars
Embrace your narrative. Create your legacy.
Legacy Scholars is a two-year program designed for students planning to pursue graduate or professional school within one year of graduating from UNI. The program offers monthly seminars on personal development, career exploration, and graduate program preparation. Participants receive personalized coaching to build standout application materials, empowering them to embrace their own narrative and create a lasting legacy.
Program Requirements
Ideal candidates should be junior-standing at the start of the program with four semesters of undergraduate studies remaining. Students must demonstrate strong academic potential and be at least one of the following:
- eligible for federal Pell Grant
- a first-generation college student
- committed to overcoming barriers to educational access and success
Applications for the Fall 2026 - Spring 2028 cohort will open February 2026.
Involvement Opportunities
Legacy Scholars programming will address individual needs while providing a sense of community among peers, staff members and faculty. Legacy Scholars should expect to:
- attend monthly seminars throughout their junior and senior years
- participate in one-on-one coaching sessions in between the monthly seminars
- complete a Legacy Scholars Summer Experience between their junior and senior years
- design and create graduate application materials with the guidance of campus professionals
There are several opportunities for funding to support experiences and expenses associated with graduate school preparation.
Questions? Contact Honors & Scholars Program Coordinator, Kylie Knecht, at kylie.knecht@uni.edu.
Legacy Scholar Student Profiles
Emma Pellegrino
B.A. Biology, Chemistry Minor
Emphasis in Honors Research
Attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison Molecular and Environmental Toxicology PhD program
"This was the first space that I didn’t feel ashamed of how little I knew about graduate school. Now, those in my cohort are preparing for our graduate programs, knowing that we belong in higher education and can bring that capability and confidence with us beyond Legacy Scholars. "
Esha Jayswal
B.A. Accounting and Economics
Lux Service Award Recipient
Working as a Corporate and Investment Banking analyst for Wells Fargo
"This program allowed me to build a community with students from various backgrounds and learn from their diverse experiences. It gave me mentorship to discover my potential and pursue my bold dreams."